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TMO18025-9370 RNC UA06 Functional Description
TMO18025-9370 RNC UA06 Functional Description
STUDENT GUIDE
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9370 RNC
UA06 Functional Description
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9370 RNC
UA06 Functional Description
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9370 RNC
UA06 Functional Description
Course Outline
1. RNC
About
ThisSituation
Course
Course outline
1. RNC Situation
Technical
support
2.
Functional
Architecture
Course objectives
1. Functional Architecture
9370 RNC
UA06 Functional Description
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9370 RNC
UA06 Functional Description
Course Objectives
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9370 RNC
UA06 Functional Description
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9370 RNC
UA06 Functional Description
Conventions
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in this guide
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Provides you with additional information about the topic being discussed.
Although this information is not required knowledge, you might find it useful
or interesting.
Technical Reference
(1) 24.348.98 Points you to the exact section of Alcatel-Lucent Technical
Practices where you can find more information on the topic being discussed.
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Alerts you to instances where non-compliance could result in equipment
damage or personal injury.
9370 RNC
UA06 Functional Description
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UA06 Functional Description
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to :
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globally
yes)
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globally
no)
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9370 RNC
UA06 Functional Description
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UA06 Functional Description
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Content
2
Content:
1. UTRAN Architecture
2. Radio and Network Protocols
3. RNC Functions
Objectives
3
Audience
Personnel in charge of network operation.
Objectives
Upon completion of this training, you should be able to situate the RNC in the UTRAN.
Estimated Duration
xx minutes
Let's look first at the objectives of this training. The test at the end allows you to check if these objectives
have been reached.
1 UTRAN Architecture
1 UTRAN Architecture
Situation
5
RNS
Uu
Iub
Iu-CS
9370 RNC
CSCN
BTS
RNS
Iur
Iu-PS
Iub
UE
9370 RNC
PSCN
BTS
UTRAN is like a gateway between the User Equipment (UE) and the Core Network. It receives data from the
Uu interface and sends it to the Core Network on the Iu interface, and inversely. The Uu interface is the air
interface where the WCDMA technology is used.
To be this gateway, the UTRAN is made up of several Radio Network Sub-Systems (RNSs). Each RNS is made
up of one and only one Radio Network Controller (RNC) and a set of Nodes B.
The RNC provides several interfaces: first the Iub interface towards a Node B, then the Iu-CS and Iu-PS
interfaces towards the Core Network and finally the Iur interface towards another RNC.
The Alcatel-Lucent UTRAN of the UMTS V5.0 comprises the Alcatel-Lucent UMTS RNC, the Alcatel-Lucent
UMTS BTS and the W-NMS for the OAM part. Note that the W-NMS is the equivalent of the OMC-R in the
Alcatel-Lucent solution.
The Alcatel-Lucent UMTS RNC is the 9370 RNC. It is the 3GPP-compliant UMTS RNC developed by AlcatelLucent.
The UMTS 9370 RNC is based on the Multiservice Switch platform (commonly called MSS).
The RNC allows mobility between UMTS and GSM networks.
The Alcatel-Lucent UMTS BTS is the 3GPP-compliant UMTS Node B developed by Alcatel-Lucent. The generic
term BTS designates the Alcatel-Lucent UMTS Internet Base Transceiver Station (Alcatel-Lucent UMTS BTS).
The current RNC can control up to 200 BTSs.
1 UTRAN Architecture
Physical Situation
6
The Alcatel-Lucent RNC is made up of the 9370 RNC and an Alcatel-Lucent Transport Node.
Iub/
STM-1
Alcatel-Lucent
RNC
Iub/E1
ATM
backbone
BTS
Iu-CS
STM-1
Alcatel 9140
9370Server
RNC
RAN
MSC
Iu-PS
SGSN
ATM
backbone
Iur
Other
RNC
STM-1
Iub/E1
BTS
Transport Node
or PoC
(optional)
Itf-R
Itf-B
BTS
OMC
The main functions of the RNC are to control and manage the Radio Access Network (RAN), the signaling
between the different Core Network components and the Radio Network Subsystem, and the Node Bs and
their corresponding radio resources.
The Alcatel-Lucent RNC is composed of the 9370 RNC and an Alcatel-Lucent Transport Node which is
optional. It depends on the way to connect the Node B to the RNC. The 9370 RNC and the Transport Node
are linked by STM-1. The 9370 RNC will be called simply RNC in the next slides.
The RNC is linked by STM-1 links through an ATM backbone to the MSC and to the SGSN.
To handle handover, one 9370 RNC may be linked to several other RNCs. They can come from other
manufacturers and can pass through the Core Network (the MSC) or not, in case of local Iur with the soft
handovers.
As regards the BTS, there are 2 ways to connect the 9370 RNC to its BTS: either through an ATM backbone
where an STM-1 link is used on RNC side and an E1 link on BTS side or through E1 links. It is the Transport
Node which makes the conversion of STM-1 links into E1 links.
Concerning the operation and maintenance, the 9370 RNC is able to send O&M flows directly on STM-1 links
in which case we will talk about "INBAND Operation and Maintenance". The RNC is also able to send O&M
flows over a dedicated Ethernet cable which is called in this case "OUTBAND operation and maintenance".
1 UTRAN Architecture
Iub/
STM-1
MSC
Alcatel-Lucent
RNC
Iub/E1
BTS
Iu-CS
STM-1
ATM
backbone
ATM
backbone
Iur
Other
RNC
9370 RNC
Eth
IP
backbone
GigE
GigE
Iu-PS
SGSN
Itf-R
Itf-B
OMC
In addition to ATM, the Alcatel-Lucent RNC supports IP transport on the Iub and Iu-PS interface.
A native IP Iub interface is introduced through a software upgrade and the addition of two 4-ports Gigabit
Ethernet boards on the RNC. No forklift is required and the existing STM-1 boards can be used for any
interfaces that remain on ATM transport.
IP/Ethernet interface is for HSDPA/HSUPA best effort traffic (Interactive and Background).
R99 services and Streaming on HSDPA, newly introduced in release UA06, is transported on ATM on the Iub
interface.
Radio Protocols
9
Radio protocols are used to exchange user data and signaling between the UE and the RNC.
Control
plane
RRC
Control
plane
User plane
Data
Voice
RRC
RLC
User plane
Data
Voice
CSCN
RLC
Logical channels
Logical channels
MAC
MAC
Transport channels
Transport channels
Iub-FP
AAL2
Physical
(WCDMA)
Physical
(WCDMA)
Physical
channels
Not
radio
protocols
Iub-FP
AAL2
ATM
ATM
Physical
Physical
Iub
Node B
UE
9370
RNC
1500
RNC
Radio protocols are used to exchange user data and signaling between the UE and the RNC.
User plane
User plane
Data
Voice
Data
RLC
RLC
Logical channels
Logical channels
MAC
MAC
Transport channels
Transport channels
Iub-FP
UDP/IP
Physical
(WCDMA)
Physical
(WCDMA)
Physical
channels
Not
radio
protocols
Iub-FP
UDP/IP
Ethernet
Ethernet
Physical
Physical
Iub
UE
Node B
9370
RNC
1500
RNC
Dont forget that from release UA06, IP over Ethernet for HSPA traffic (Data Services) is still supported, at
the transport layer, but not for other types of services (including Streaming on HSPA). Indeed, these
services continue to use ATM as indicated previously.
Network Protocols
11
Iu-FP/
AAL2
Iu-CS
NBAP/
AAL5
Iub-FP/
AAL2
MSC
Iub
RANAP/
AAL5
RNC
Iu-PS
Node B
Iur-FP/
AAL2
SGSN
Iur
RNSAP/
AAL5
Network protocols
in the control plane
Iu-FP/
AAL5
RNC
Network protocols
in the user plane
The network protocols are used for the exchange of signaling and traffic data between the RNC and the
Node B (on the Iub interface), between two RNCs (on the Iur interface) and between the RNC and the CN
(on the Iu-CS and Iu-PS interfaces).
As for the radio protocols, there are two planes: the control plane and the user plane.
In the control plane, the first network protocol is the NBAP protocol. This protocol is used to exchange
specific signaling between the RNC and the Node B, like the addition of a new radio link. A second protocol
is the RNSAP protocol which is used to exchange specific signaling between two RNCs, mainly in case of
soft handover where 2 RNCs are involved. The last protocol is the RANAP protocol which is used to
exchange specific signaling between the RNC and the Core Network, like the release of a call for example.
All these protocols are conveyed on AAL5.
In the user plane, the Iub-FP and Iur-FP protocols are used to convey not only the traffic data but also
radio signaling (i.e RRC messages and NAS signal). On the other hand, the Iu-FP protocols are used to
convey traffic data only.
Note that PS traffic is conveyed on AAL2 on the Iub and Iur interfaces and on AAL5 on the Iu-PS interface.
An AAL2/AAL5 conversion is necessary for PS traffic in the RNC.
12
3 RNC Functions
3 RNC Functions
Mobility Management
Add a new RAB
RNS
Iub
Iu-CS
9370
CSCN
RNC
BTS
Iur
RNS
Iu-PS
Iub
9370
UE
RNC
BTS
PSCN
14
End of Module
Functional Architecture
3FLXXXXXXCAAWZZA
Content
2
Content:
1. Functional Block Description
2. Signal Flows inside the RNC
In this course, we are going to describe each functional block of the RNC.
Then we will see the signal flows inside the RNC.
Objectives
3
Audience
Personnel in charge of network operation.
Objectives
Upon completion of this training, you should be able to describe the functional architecture
of the RNC
Estimated Duration
xx minutes
Let's look first at the objectives of this training. The test at the end allows to check if these objectives
have been reached.
First, let's discover the functional blocks of the RNC and what they are used to.
RNC
CONTROL NODE
Transmission
Block
Iur
Transmission
Block
Network
interface
Iu
Internal
switching
Network
interface
Network
interface
NBAP, RANAP,
RNSAP, ALCAP
AAL5 based
C-Plane Protocols
Iux FP, AAL2 based
U-Plane Protocols
RRC Protocol
Iub
INTERFACE NODE
High Touch Bearer Functions:
Header Compression
PDCP
RLC
Macro Diversity
MAC
FP Termination
Internal Control
Packet
Server
The RNC includes several types of hardware modules, each performing specific functions.
A first hardware module is the CP. The CP is the Control Processor. It manages and controls the system and
network functions and stores the data on its hard disk.
Then the RNC supports boards responsible for the transmission links. Each board has 16 ports for optical
connectors either in STM-1 or OC-3.
That's why they are called 16p OC-3/STM-1. This type of board connects the RNC with other Network
Elements for Iu, Iur and Iub connectivity.
Next we find the Packet Server or Dual Core Packet Server Functional Processor boards (which are also
called PS-FP or DSCP boards). These boards manage the bearer processing functions (for the user plane) as
well as the control plane processing. In fact, we could say that the PS-FP boards manage all the radio and
network functions of the RNC but they don't perform the management of the transmission links.
So the PS-FP boards are responsible for the Traffic Management with the Call Processing and the radio
functions, the management of the Radio Access Bearer at the MAC and RLC layers, the Network Interface
signaling with the SS7 protocol and finally the OAM Management.
Also optionally RNC could have two 4-port Gigabit Ethernet boards to provide the IP over Ethernet
connectivity on Iub and Iu-PS.
Finally the RNC includes an internal switch called "fabric module" or "switch Fabric". There are 2 fabric
modules working in load sharing, each one at 56.7 Gigabits per second. Each of these modules is
dimensioned to be able to process alone the maximum load of the RNC in case one of them is in failure.
Control Processor: CP
Packet Server FP
Control Processor
Software
Downloading
Fabric
Module
Disk Management
Shelf Manager
16p OC3/STM1 FP
ATM Services
4p GigE FP
Ererer
Rererez
Rerezrzer
Reserve
Ererez
Erasers
Erase
Erere
Eraser
ererer
Maintaining
Routing Tables
WMS
Link to OA&M
(Ethernet 10/100 baseT)
IP Routing
(Virtual Router)
OAM Access
The Control Processor (CP) manages all the resources of the RNC, its interfaces with the OMC-R and
contains a local disk for loads and logs.
The CP has a 1+1 redundancy scheme and uses a proprietary operating system built on VxWorks.
The hard disk in the CP module has a capacity of 20 GigaBytes for the storage of the firmware packages,
Provisioning Data, Software, Operational Files, Logs, Call Trace files.
Which functions does this hardware module perform?
The CP module controls basic functions such as loading, fault detection and sparing. It also manages the
routing functions of ATM connections. The CP module is also in charge of disk management and supplies an
Ethernet access to the OMC-R via its TCP/IP port. Then this module performs the IP routing function for
OMC-B/Node B links and supports the functional processors as well as the 2 fabric modules. The last
function of the CP module is to maintain the routing tables.
Packet Server FP
Interface Node
CP
modules
Packet Server FP
AAL5 ATM cells
16P
OC-3/
STM-1 FP
Protocol
Converter
PMC
TCP / IP / AAL5
Radio
Bearer
PMCs
Traffic
Management
Unit PMCs
FP
modules
The Packet Server Functional Processor module (or just PS-FP) is a board with 6 internal processors,
commonly called PMCs as those packet server functional processors are based on the internal open
architecture of PCI Mezzanine Cards.
Then each PS-FP board hosts 6 PMCs.
The PS-FP module is responsible for radio protocol handling (with the MAC, RLC and PDCP protocols) and
soft handover management. It performs the AAL2 function with segmentation and re-assembly as well as
the conversion of AAL2 into AAL5 for internal use or for Packet calls. The PS-FP module also manages the
termination of network protocols (such as RANAP, RNSAP, NBAP and ALCAP). Furthermore, it supplies RRM
support with the RRC protocol and algorithms for the QoS management, the call admission, the mobility or
the radio admission control. And finally it assures the IP routing for the OAM Management.
From release UA05.1.2, two types of Packet Server boards exist: PSFP and Dual Core Packet Server.
PMC-PC AAL2
into IP/AAL5
Translation
PMC-TMU
Traffic
Management
PMC-RAB Radio
Processing
RLC, MAC, PDCP
PMC-NI
SS7 stack
MTP3b, SCCP
Active
PMC
Master
Active
PMC
Master
Passive
PMC
OMU
Active
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
Master
PC
TMU
Master
PC
TMU
PC
OMU
NI
PC
TMU
TMU
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
PMC
RAB
RAB
RAB
RAB
RAB
RAB
RAB
RAB
RAB
RAB
RAB
RAB
...
Fabric
interface
Fabric
interface
Fabric
interface
Fabric
interface
We have just seen that each PS-FP module houses 6 PMC processors.
The PMCs are spared within each PS-FP module so that the failure of a single computing element could not
break off an entire PS-FP module.
Each PMC is dedicated to one function among 6 possible functions.
Indeed, a PMC can be used as PMC-Master for the management of all the other PMCs or as PMC-PC, a
Protocol Converter which is used for the AAL2/AAL5 conversion. It can be used as well as PMC-RAB with
Radio Access Bearers responsible for the user plane processing such as RLC, MAC protocols or Macro
diversity handover.
A PMC can also take the function of a PMC-NI providing a Network Interface which manages the SS7
signaling between network elements or else of a PMC-TMU, a Traffic Management Unit which supports the
software, manages the control plane processing such as NBAP, RANAP, RNSAP protocols as well as the
algorithms for the call establishment.
Finally a PMC can be a PMC-OMU, that is a PMC with OAM Management Units. This PMC manages the OAM
link including Performance management, Configuration, Fault Management, Call Trace Management, and so
on.
In any configuration of RNC, you find 2 PMC-Master, 2 PMC-NIs and 2 PMC-OMUs: one is active, the other is
in standby for redundancy purposes. In the case a PS-FP board manages a PMC-Master, we call it a Master
PS-FP.
Each PS-FP board also includes a PMC-PC for the conversion of AAL2 into AAL5.
The number of PMC-RABs and PMC-TMUs depends on the configuration of your RNC and obvioulsy, the more
PMCs, the highest the RNC capacity.
Fabric Module
10
Up to 14 FP modules
Updated Slide
2 CP
Up to 12 PS-FP
CP3
Fabric
Module
Port 1
..
..
..
..
..
Port 16
Backplane cell
16P
OC-3/
STM-1 FP
Packet
Server
FP
CP
ATM cell
Fabric
Port 1
..
..
..
..
..
Port 16
Header
5 octets
Port 1
..
..
..
..
..
Port 16
4P
GigE
Module
Port 1
..
..
..
..
..
Port 16
Payload = 48 octets
Header
7 octets
Payload = 60 octets
Padding
Trailer
Each RNC contains 2 fabric modules working in load sharing and responsible for the internal ATM routing
between boards. They are located one above the other at the rear side of the shelf assembly.
A fabric module is dimensioned to work alone in case of failure of the other one. Therefore one fabric
module is able to support the whole traffic load of the RNC.
A single fabric module is a 16x16 non-blocking switch which provides each input and output port with a 3.2Gbit/s bandwidth, for a total throughput of 56.7 Gbit/s.
The cell switching is connectionless and self-routing. In addition, the RNC backplane cells are 68-byte long
with a 7-byte header. The ATM cell (of 53 bytes) is then included in the 60-byte payload.
16pOC-3/STM-1 FP
11
Fabric
Module
Control
Processor
CP
Packet
Server
FP
Transport Network
Connection scheduler
PoC
Iub
Iu
Iub
Core
Network
Class scheduler
Node B
16 optical port interfaces
STM-1
Other
RNC
16pOC-3/STM-1 FP
9370 RNC
Iur
Node B
All Rights Reserved Alcatel-Lucent 2008
The 16-port OC-3/STM-1 is a Functional Processor module that provides connectivity inside the RNC.
This FP module is the ATM interface module of the RNC for the Iu, Iub and Iur interfaces.
Note that all ports of the board are either of OC-3 type or of STM-1 type.
We will see later the recommended configurations of those optical ports and the protection solutions that
are enabled at port level.
4pGigE FP
12
Fabric
New Slide
Module
Control
Processor
CP
Packet
Server
FP
Transport Network
16P
OC-3/
STM-1 FP
IP differentiated services
Iu-ps
Iub
Iub
Class scheduler
Core
Network
4p GigE
Node B
9370 RNC
The 4-port Gigabit Ethernet board is a Functional Processor module that provides IP connectivity.
This FP module is the Ethernet interface module of the RNC for the hybrid Iub and Iu-PS interfaces.
This board performs IP encapsulation over Ethernet and is able to manage IP differential services.
13
In this section, we are going to see by which blocks different signals are processed.
This section will give you a global view of the RNC and will help you to understand how each block
operates.
9370 RNC
Packet
Server
FP
PMC-PC
Protocol
converter
Iub
User Plane:
Dedicated channels
(traffic, control)
Common channels
IP
PMC-TMU
RRC
RNSAP
ALCAP
NBAP
RANAP
PMC-RAB
RLC
MAC
FP
GTP
AAL2
AAL2
AAL2
16p
OC-3
AAL5
Fabric
Module
AAL2
Node B
Control Plane:
NBAP
ALCAP
AAL2
AAL5
GTP
NRT
AMR,
RT
U-Plane
AAL5
RANAP
ALCAP
C-Plane
Iu Interface
All Rights Reserved Alcatel-Lucent 2008
In this first example, a user is establishing a voice call while the mobile is sending traffic data to the RNC.
So this traffic has to be transferred to the Circuit core network.
You can see that the signal coming from the mobile through the Node B is received by the transmission
block in the STM-1 board in AAL2 format.
Then the data is sent through the internal fabric module to the PS-FP board. This board first converts the
ATM cells from the AAL2 format into the IP format which is understandable by the other PMCs.
Still inside the PS-FP board, the data is sent to be processed in the PMC-RAB in order to extract the voice
from the DCH transport channel.
Once at the output of the PMC-RAB, the voice is simply forwarded to the MSC in AAL2 format.
9370 RNC
Packet
Server
FP
PMC-PC
Protocol
converter
Iub
IP
PMC-TMU
RRC
RNSAP
NBAP
RANAP
PMC-RAB
RLC
MAC
FP
GTP
User Plane:
Dedicated channels
(traffic, control)
Common channels
AAL2
AAL2
16p
OC-3
AAL5
Fabric
Module
IP
Node B
Control Plane:
NBAP
ALCAP
AAL2
AAL5
GTP
NRT
AMR,
RT
U-Plane
AAL5
RANAP
ALCAP
C-Plane
Iu Interface
All Rights Reserved Alcatel-Lucent 2008
Here is an example of packet call such as web browsing. Therefore the data has to be sent to the packet
Core Network.
In this example, the data is sent by the mobile. So the Node B receives the transport channel from the
mobile. Note that data can be carried over a dedicated or a common transport channel depending on the
amount of traffic to carry.
Next, the Node B forwards the transport channel over ATM in AAL2 format as always for the user plane on
the Iub interface.
As for a circuit call, the RNC receives the data through the STM-1 board (or 16 port OC-3) and processes this
data in the PS-FP board. Of course the signal is still going through the fabric module which interconnects
the different boards.
In the same way as voice, the AAL2 format is converted internally into IP to be understood by other PMCs.
The IP packets are then extracted from the transport and logical channels inside the PMC-RAB. In this PMC,
some specific protocols like GTP-U or UDP may be applied before forwarding the useful data to the SGSN.
In order to carry the IP packets from the RNC to the SGSN, you can notice that the data is still in AAL5
format at the output of the 16p OC3/STM-1 board.
IP en
Data Signal: Packet Call Data Originated by UERseau
using
IPgris
16
Bloc 4pGigE en
cohrence avec les illus
prcdentes
9370 RNC
Packet
Server
FP
PMC-PC
Protocol
converter
Iub
IP
PMC-TMU
RRC
RNSAP
NBAP
RANAP
PMC-RAB
RLC
MAC
FP
GTP
User Plane:
Dedicated channels
(traffic, control)
Common channels
IP
IP
4p
GigE
AAL5
Fabric
Module
IP
Node B
Control Plane:
NBAP
ALCAP
IP
GTP
NRT
U-Plane
IP
RANAP
C-Plane
Iu Interface
All Rights Reserved Alcatel-Lucent 2008
Rseaufrom
IP en gris
Network Control Signal: RRC Connection Message
UE
17
9370 RNC
Packet
Server
FP
PMC-PC
Protocol
converter
Iub
User Plane:
Dedicated channels
(traffic, control)
Common channels
IP
PMC-TMU
RRC
RNSAP
NBAP
RANAP
PMC-RAB
RLC
MAC
FP
GTP
AAL2
AAL2
AAL2
16p
OC-3
AAL5
Fabric
Module
AAL2
Node B
Control Plane:
NBAP
ALCAP
AAL2
AAL5
GTP
NRT
AMR,
RT
U-Plane
AAL5
RANAP
ALCAP
C-Plane
Iu Interface
All Rights Reserved Alcatel-Lucent 2008
This example shows a dedicated signalling between the RNC and a UE. The RNC receives the message sent
by the mobile. This message can be for example a measurement report sent when the UE is able to receive
a cell with a good quality.
The message is mapped on the logical Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH). This logical channel is then
mapped, by the MAC protocol, on the Dedicated transport Channel (DCH).
As the message goes through the air interface, it is transported by the user plane of the network protocol.
That means this USER signalling is seen as useful data between the Node B and the RNC, that's why it is
carried in AAL2 format.
Inside the RNC, the transmission block receives the STM-1 frame and extracts the ATM cells from this frame
in AAL2 format. Then the frame is sent to the PS-FP board through the "fabric module".
Inside the PS-FP board, as usual, the PMC-PC converts AAL2 into IP. Then the PMC-RAB demultiplexes the
logical channels from the transport channel with the MAC protocol and extracts the signalling radio bearer
from the logical channel thanks to the RLC protocol.
Finally this RRC message is sent to the PMC-TMU to be understood by the RRC protocol.
RseauBIP en gris
Network Control Signal: NBAP Message from Node
18
9370 RNC
Packet
Server
FP
PMC-PC
Protocol
converter
Iub
User Plane:
Dedicated channels
(traffic, control)
Common channels
IP
PMC-TMU
RRC
RNSAP
NBAP
RANAP
PMC-RAB
RLC
MAC
FP
GTP
AAL2
AAL5
AAL2
AAL5
16p
OC-3
AAL5
Fabric
Module
AAL5
Node B
Control Plane:
NBAP
ALCAP
AAL2
AAL5
GTP
NRT
AMR,
RT
U-Plane
AAL5
RANAP
ALCAP
C-Plane
Iu Interface
All Rights Reserved Alcatel-Lucent 2008
Let's now take the example of a network signalling, more precisely a signalling message between 2 network
elements.
We have illustrated here how an NBAP message sent by the BTS is processed in the RNC. Let's suppose this
message is the response of the BTS in a "Radio link establishment" procedure.
The message is received, first, by the transmission block on an STM-1 link.
As it is network signalling, the message is never sent on the air interface. So there is no channel to
demultiplex. This is the reason why the NBAP message is carried directly over ATM.
Moreover, as the NBAP message is carried over AAL5 like any other network application protocol, there is
no need to perform an AAL2-IP conversion.
So, the PMC-TMU simply receives the NBAP message and processes it with the NBAP protocol.
19
End of Module
1
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